TEMPLE CITY >> Rather than allow a polarizing school superintendent to work until her contract expires in June, the board of education on Wednesday unanimously voted to put her on administrative leave effective immediately.

School board President Kien Tiet said the members took into account all the stories they’ve heard about Chelsea Kang-Smith’s effectiveness and tactics. He said it was a tough decision, but it was made in the best interests of the students and the district.

“We thank Ms. Kang-Smith for her six years of work at TCUSD since she became superintendent in 2008,” Tiet said in a press release. “However, given this time of great opportunity and change in education, we determined we needed to begin the transition to lay the groundwork for the leadership change this summer. We wish Chelsea well in all future endeavors.”

Some teachers, classified staff and former board members said Kang-Smith liked to run things her way. They allege that any dissention led to threats, personal attacks and shouting matches. Parents, on the other hand, said the superintendent championed their efforts, was effective in generating more revenue and respected their opinions.

Kang-Smith, 47, began her three-year contract at TCUSD in August 2008 and received three one-year contract extensions amid split board of education votes. In November, the school board chose to allow Kang-Smith’s contract to expire on June 30.

The superintendent earned $175,000 a year and will make about $58,300 during her administrative leave, a number that doesn’t include health and welfare benefits.

She is entitled to be compensated for up to 22 days of earned vacation time when her contract expires. Annually, she may cash out up to 10 unused vacation days, according to her contract.

Kang-Smith sat silently as nine speakers either praised or tarred her. About 75 people were in attendance.

Kim Tso, who was president of the Temple City Schools Foundation from 2010-2012, said her nonprofit donated $150,000 in grant money to TCUSD in 2010, but said doing so was difficult after her relationship with Kang-Smith soured.

“When (Kang-Smith) misinterpreted my intentions and vision for the foundation, instead of asking me for clarification, the superintendent threatened to take away summer school and form a new foundation that would do her bidding,” Tso said. “When we did not take the threat seriously, she came to our board meetings and intimidated board members by interrogating them after each grant decision and (by) shouting at us.”

Mary Saxon, president of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association at Temple City High School, defended Kang-Smith.

“Please consider all the positive accomplishments made by Dr. Kang-Smith. … Let Dr. Kang-Smith work ‘til the end of her contract in June so she could leave with her dignity intact and have a fair advantage to seek employment in another district that will value her vast experience in managing school districts.”

At board of education meetings on Feb. 12 and 14, only people who advocated for Kang-Smith spoke. Before Wednesday, 14 people discussed how hard Kang-Smith worked to pass Measure S, a $129 million bond. They said Kang-Smith has “overwhelming support from PTA.”

Deb Maurey, the Teachers Union president, said she needed to speak up because the conversation had gotten too one-sided. As she walked to the podium, some 45 percent of the audience members stood up to support her.

“Chelsea has not been the forward-thinking educational leader that Temple City needs to maintain its quality standards,” Maurey said. “Chelsea’s main areas of weakness are willingness to make changes, trustworthiness and willingness to put employee suggestions into execution.”

After being lambasted just a day after her birthday, Kang-Smith said many of the hurtful words were lies.

“I always treat people with dignity, but when things need to be investigated, need to be looked into, I need to look into it,” she said. “It’s my job — so our district could go in a respectful, more dignified way so no one is being bullied or retaliated against.”

The board members deliberated in closed session and then summoned Kang-Smith after more than an hour. The superintendent packed her bags and left after that conversation.

Her supporters predicted the crowd would cheer, but no one did.

“I no longer have confidence in the decisions the board of education makes,” Saxon said.

In a closed-session meeting Friday, the school board will discuss the appointment of an acting superintendent.

“We need to heal. We need to move forward,” Tiet said, referring to a close-knit community that had vastly different opinions of the schools chief.

As the board of education moves forward in search of a new superintendent, Tiet said his team will try to make the process inclusive and transparent, where parents, teachers and community members could share their opinions.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.